Operating and reclaiming oil-wells.



w. D. HUFF.'

OPERATING AND RECLAIMING OIL WELLS.

APPLlCATlON FILED JAN. li. l9l6.

Patented om. 3,1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEErcE.

WILLIAM DANIEL HUFF, F LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOE OE THREE-FOUBYTHS T0 LOUISEv GUIDRY MOSS, 0F NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA.,

OPERATING AND RECLAIMING OIL-WELLS.

To all 'wil/om it mag/concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. a

citizen of the United States residing at.

La Fayette, in the parish yof Lafayette and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful'Improvements in Operating and Reclaiming Oil-Wells; and I do hereby declare the-following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichl it appertains to make and use the same.

My resent invention relates to improvements 1n operating and reclaiming oil wells. It is well known that in operating oil wells after a certainperiod of flow the oil begins to thicken around the openin into` the well, due to the presence ofpara or other causes, and in. course of time the oil stops flowing; and it is the purpose of my present invention to expedite the flow of oil in those wells in which this flow has alread begun to diminish, and to reclaim those `oil wells in which the flow has already ceased, due to the causes aforesaid.

According to my present invention I heat the interior of the well near the bottom with ,-any hot fluid, such', for instance, as air,l

r which is preferably used in the regenerative way, as will be hereinafter described, and this heat not only serves to thin the oil in the veins, permitting it to flow from the oil- I bearing strata into the well, but also geneiiect of the'ejector to the lifting effect of crates steam or other gas pressure in the well, which depresses the liquid in the well from thestatic head down to a point below a series of steam ejectors, carried by pipes mounted in the well, which add the dynamic the pressure in the well, and thus lift the oil or other liquid in the well through the casingand deliver it to a delivery pipe, as

will be hereinafter more fully described.'

My invention will be more clearly understood by reference vto the accompanying drawings, in which similar parts are indicated by similar reference symbols througlii out the-several views, and in which Figure 1 shows a central vertical sction through the well casing, and illustrates the entire apparatus, parts being shown in elevation and parts diagrammatically; Fig. 2..

shows a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 showsa section along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and-lookingin the direclspiwnmation or Letters Patent.

` an inlet nozzle 7 for directing A I APatented Oct. 3, 1916. Appuuaimnaiea January 11,1916. 'Serial No. 71,596.'

Fig. 1, and-shows part of the closed head of the well casingwith its connections; Fig. 5 isan enlarged view ofthe ejectorshown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 shows a section along the 1in@ c -c of Fig. 5, andiookingcin the di;

. The wellV casing 1 is constructed in the u sual way, and vis provided withperforations 2 near its lowerend, or vwith al suitable 'screen such asis well known in the art.

This casing 1 is closed atthe top with a f screw cap 3, provided with a series oftapered screw couplings 4, screwed into said cap, and provided with linternal screw threads adapted to engage the screw threads at the upper ends of 'the lifting pipes 5. Near their lowerl ends these pipes 5 are provided with an enlarged chamber 6, having steam or gas pressure upward through thenozzle 8, and this nozzle 7 is steadied and centered in the chamber 6 in any convenient way, as by means of lthe three-legged spider 9,4 such forni ofspider being used since it can be readily assembled in the chamber 6; but said spider may be cast integral with said chamber if desired.

.Mounted in the centralv portion of the head 3 is a larger tapered screw coupling 10, externally threaded to engage in the head 3, and internally threaded to Vengage -the two members 11` and' 11a of the return pipe for the heating fiuid.' 'This return pipe projects down into the center of the well,

and is provided with a coupling 12r having ahead 12*el into which the upper ends of the heating pipes 1 3 are secured, the lower ends .of sai pipes being secured in the head 14HL of the closed chamber 14. The heating fluid supply pipe 15 passes through these vheads f 14a and 12a, and also through the stuiiing box 18 at the top of the apparatus, and is connected bythe pipe 15'* to the force pump 16,A Heating fluid, such as hot air, is forced,

`pipes 11A and 15 and enters the union 17,

passing through the pipe 19 to any suitable heater 20, and from this heaterit is delivered by l.the pipe 21 to the pump 16. Any

from said pump through the pipe 15a and nected to any suitable pipe 31, connectedto asuitable beater may be used, but I have shown a heater provided with va steam coil 22, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Above the closed head 3 of the Well casing I provide a chamber 23, into which the upper ends of the lifting pipes 5 open, and this chamber is connected to the delivery pipe 25controlled by the valve 25a, which delivery pipe` leads to a suitable reservoir (ndt shown), or other point of delivery of the liquid pumped from the well.

The upper part of the well casing below the closed cap l3 is provided with appipe 26, having a pressure gage 27, a safety valve 28, and a valve 29 closing the pipe 30, open to the atmosphere, so that the pressure may be automatically relieved when it becomes excessive on the 'interior of the Well casing, or may be relieved by opening the valve 29, when desired. This pipe 26 may be also consource of water or crude oil supply 32, which pipe 31 is controlled by the valve 3 3. Thus if it be desired to charge the well with crude oil or water,this may be accomplished by opening the valve' 33, having previously relieved'the pressure on the interior of the well casing by means of the valve 29 and pipe 30. l

The operation of the device is as follows: The normal static head of liquid in the well, composed either of crude oil, or water, or both, would ordinarily be indicated by the line X-X in Fig. 1. Now start the pump 16, and the heater 20, and the hot air, or other fluid, will be pumped down through the pipe 15, to the chamber 14, located near the bottom of the well, from thence the hot fluid Will rise through'the heating pipes 13, and, entering the chamber 12, will pass up through the annular space between the pipes 11 and 15, and will be sucked back into the heater 20 by the suction end of the pump, and being heated in returning to the pump will be delivered to the pipe 15, and the flow of the heating uid' will be continued indeiinitely.`

While I have described air as the preferred form of heating fluid, it will be obvious that water, steam, or other heating fluids, may be used if desired. As the flow of the heating Huid continues, the liquid in the well casing surrounding the pipes 13 will be heated, and this hot liquid owingthrough the screen at the bottom of the well will enter the oil-bearing strata, and will thin the same, permitting the oil to flow more freely. As the pressure increases on the interior of the well casing, steam and other gases will be generated, which, rising in the interior of the well casing beneath the.

closed cap 3,' will accumulate under pressure, and will force the level of the liquld in the interior of the well casing from the line X-X downward, until the level of the liquid arrives at a lpoint substantially indicated by the line Y-Y just below. the ejector chamber 6. Meantime, of course, the liquid from the yWell Will have risen to a corresponding height in the pipes 5, so as to obtain static equlibrium. As soon as the level vof the liquid asses below the nozzle '7, the steam and ot er gases generated will rush in through those nozzles and will tend to further lift the liquid in the pipes 5, until it reaches the chamber 23 and passes through the delivery pipe 25, being carried to thev head. By having the circuit for the heating fluid closed, as shown, a great economy in heat is secured.

Inl orderto prevent excessive pressure in the well casing, which might endanger the apparatus, I provide the pipe 26, provided with a pressure gage 27 and a safety valve 28, and this pipe 26 is also connected to the pipe 30 controlled by the valve 29. It frequently vmay be desirable in reclaiming old wells to supply the interior of the casing with a suliicient amount of liquid to be used in thinning the oil at the bottom of the well, and also in generating the steam and gas pressure needed to operate the ejectors, and for this purpose the pipe 26 may be connected by a suitable pipe 31 to any source of liquid supply 32. This source of liquid supply may be either crude oil, or water, preferably crude oil, and the pipe '31 may be connected to or out off from the pipe 26 by means of the valve 33. Thus, when it is desired to charge the well with liquid the valve 33 is opened and the liquid iiows rom the reservoir 32 into the well casing, rising to the desired height in the well, after which the heating Huid is turned on and the operation 'of heating the liquid in the Well is inaugurated. The liquid so supplied will be heated, as already described, and will thinthe oil in the oil-bearing strata, and

will start the oil to flowing, and after the that 'hot water, or other heated `iuid, mayused for conveying the heat to the liquid in. the `well for the purpose of thinning the oil in the oilbearing strata, and for gener-f ating the gas pressure in the'well, whereby"` the ejectors are operated.

moreover the supply. of air may be always replenished from the atmosphere..- *More4 over, where the well is deep there/would be' practically no energywasted inflifting the' return supply 'of air from the bottom ofthe Well to the heater; whereas, if afliq'uidwere used as the heating force would be required to lift the liquid :up

rangement of parts which could beusedA departing from thespirit of myjipnr u of pipes projectingdown through said .Closed ing from the bottom of a deep well to theheater.'

For these and other-reasonsV Iprefer-to use air as the heating medium where the .Wells-v areiof any appreciable depth..` .By' using the tapered screw connections and 10 (-see Figs. 1 and 4) the enlargements' on the pipes5, and 12 and 14 on the pipe-13 can] pass freely through the cap before the fscrew connection is put in placa While I have shown sixlifting pipes j and six heating pipes 13, the number of thesepipes may be varied at will. More,

over, any suitable form of heaters maybe Moreover, various modiica'tions might be without vention.

Having thus described myv invention what I claim and desire to Vsecure by Letters-Patent of the United States is 1. In an oil well the combination witha casing and a closed cap therefor, o-f a 'series cap and each provided with an ejector' openf adapted to direct'steam and gas under pressure upward through said. pipes, a' heating fluid return pipev projecting down through said cap and nearly to the bottom of the well, a iuid heater carried by said .return pipe, and a supply pipe for the heatingfluid passing through said return pipe `and ,delivering heated fluid tov said fluid heater,'sulo` I u .A i meansffor'generating heatrin said casing, combination 'withani-f p -air,;a pump for drawing hot airgfrom said stantially as described;- 2. In an oil well the and adapted to'dir'ect steam and gasun'de'r pressure upward through saidpip'es, a `heat ing through said capfa'nd -nearly` to the bottom of the well, a fluid heater 'carried'byfsaid ref" into the interior of said casing andl mentioned heater,

fluid returnpipe projectingfv down :lower end'of said hot air delivery pipe and `turn-pipe, supply pipe for the heating. passing through said return .pipe and deliv ering, heated fluidjto said fluid,A heater, a

1 3; In an oil well he c ombinatioiilwitha' casing and. a closed-cap thereforfwith'mas f for: supplying liquid to theinteriorof 'saidca 'singo f a series of pipes projecting-down 'through said closed lcap.: andi-each? provided with'anl ejector vopening into the :interior of y l'said casing and adaptedto direct steamand medium, considerables pipes, -axlieating f iu'idreturnf pipefproject- A fing down through-said' cap, and' nearly to gas -j under pressure upward 'through-jl Said riedby'said returnv pipe, a supply pipe for "thefheating lfluid .passing through said re- 1 turn p'ipegand delivering heated fluid to said luid Y heater, a pump' for de-livering heated j'fluid tosaid 'supplyxpipd a return kmain connecting'j saidl iiuid' return pipe. and said pump,.. and a lf1eatei locatedv in said return main whereby `al regenerative heating system is provided, substantially as described.

4.; Inan oil well the combination with a casing anda closed cap therefor, Aofa seriesofpipes projecting downthrough said Y closed cap `and each provided-with anejectori-opening into the interior of said casing .,and' ad a'pt'e d to direct steam and gas under -jpressure vupward through'` said pipes, and .means'ffor generating heat'in said casing, said n i'eaiis comprising v.a heater for heating 'air,: aj pump drawing hot air fromisaid heater, an airfdeliye-ry pipe leadinglfrom fsaid pump nearly to the bottom fof the well,

an-airheater receiving the hot airfromsaid 1 v pipe, and 'ai returngpipe inclosing said -hot-Av air-delivery' pipe forrreturning the'air after l substantially as deleaving the heater: inthe well to `,said virst# scribed.

`ain man weilthe Combinacin. wat a {casing-and a' closed cap therefor, of a 'se-7 i v.ries of pipes projecting `down through said iocfris'- closed capand each provided with an ejecf A fl 'tor opening 'into the interior n of -saidi casing and adapted to direct steam andzgas under pressure upward through said pipesyand v v said means comprising a -heaterfor heating 1" heater, a` hot' airA delivery pipe leading from said pump downfinthewell below '-the'oil- Y bearing strata, a v return pipel inclosing said said return pipe, substantially as described,

2 Y6. In an oil well the combination with a casing and a closed cap therefor,:of a series of pipes projecting down through said closed sure upward through said pipes, and means lfor, generating heat in said casing, said means comprising a heater for heating air, a 'pump for drawinghot air from said heater, a hot air delivery pipe leading from said pump down in the lwell below the oil-bearing strata,`a return pipeinclosing said hot air delivery pipe, and connected to said heater, and a series of heating pipes for heating the liquid inthe Well interposed between the lower end of. said hot air delivery pipe and said return pipe, substantially as described.

7. In an oil well the combination with a casing and a closed cap therefor, of a series of pipes projecting down through said closed cap and each provided` with an ejector opening into the interior of said casing and adapted to direct steam and gas under pressure upwardthrough said pipes, and means for generating heat in said casing, said means comprising a heater for heating air, a pump for drawing hot air from said heater, a hot air delivery pipe leadingl from said pump down in the well below the oil-bearing strata, a return pipe inclosing said hot air delivery pipe, and connected to said heater, a hot air chamber receiving the heated air from the lower end of said hot air delivery pipe, and a series of pipes connecting said vchamber with the lower end of said return pipe, substantially as described.

`8. In an oil well the combination with a casing. and a closed cap therefor, and means for delivering liquid to the interior of said casing, of a series of pipes projecting down through said closed cap and each provided with an ejector opening into the'interior of said casing and adapted to direct steam and gas under pressurey upward through said pipes, and means for generating heat in said casing, said means comprising a heater for heating a1r, a pump drawing hot a1r from from said heater, an alr-dellvery pipe leading from said pump nearly vtothe bottom of the well, an air heater receiving the hot air from said pipe, and a return pipe inclosing said hot air delivery pipe for returning the air after leaving the heater in the well to said'rst-mentioned heater, substantially as described.

9. In an oil well the combination with a casing and a closed cap therefor', and means for delivering liquid to the interior of said lower end of said return closing said hot air delivery pipe, and connected to said heater, and an air heater for heating the liquid in the well interposed between the ylower end of said hot air delivery pipe and said return pipe.

l0. In an oil well the combination with a casing and a closed cap therefor, and means for delivering liquid to the interior of said casing, of a series of pipes projecting down through said closed cap .and each provided with an ejector opening into the interior of said casing and adapted to direct steam and gas under pressure upward through said pipes, and means for generating heat in said casing, said means comprising a heater for heating air, a pump for drawing hot air from said heater, a hot air delivery pipe leading from said pump down in the Well below the oil-bearing strata, a return pipe inclosing said hotair delivery pipe, and con-` nected to said heater, and a series of heating pipes for heating the liquid in the well interposed between the lower end of said hot air delivery pipe and said return pipe, substantially as described.

11. In an oil well the combination with a casing and a closed cap therefor, and means for delivering liquid to the interior of said casing,of a series 'of pipes projecting down through said closed cap and each provided with an ejector opening into the interior of said casing and adapted to direct steam and gas under pressure upward through said pipes, and means for generating heat in said casing, said means comprising a heater for 'heating air, a pump for drawing hot air from said heater, a hot air delivery pipe leading from said pump down in the well below the oil-bearing strata, a return pipe inclosing said -hot air delivery pipe, and connected to said heater, a hot air chamber receiving the heated air from the lower end of said hot air delivery pipe, and a series of pipes connecting said chamber with the pipe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

WILLIAM DANIEL HUFF. 

